A few comments on 2 Corinthians 1-6
It has often been said that the Second Epistle to the Corinthians unfolds truth to that assembly of the greatest import, which could not be imparted to them in the first epistle. The reason was that their moral condition had improved by way of repentance and godly clearing.
But it is not always seen by what means this blessed truth of the new covenant reconciliation and new creation is given. The apostle had been attacked as a minister. Sinister motives had been suggested as a reason for his activities, which he felt most keenly, and proceeds, as every minister should, to give his answer to such charges by unfolding ministry which was unique, and especially entrusted to him by God, both as a minister and an ambassador. Thus it came about that no one else could unfold what the apostle Paul did.
This letter involves a rebuke to the assembly for refusing to take what God sovereignly chose should be given by Paul only, and incidentally to show what they had missed through despising the servant of God. A truth we might take to heart today!
Chapter 1 shows the apostle to be accused of vacillation, and there he tells us that his word was not yea and nay, but that his preaching of the Son of God was in regard to the confirmation of all God’s promises, whatever their number, and was indeed in the stability of promise and fulfillment a means of promoting the glory of God as a performer of His promises.
Chapter 2 shows how God in Christ sets His seal on His servant’s work by heading the triumphant procession which marked the taking of spoil from the enemy in the persons of all who were converted to God by his preaching, and at the same time waves the sweet incense of God’s saving grace in every place, and marks out the preachers as a fragrance of Christ in both those who are saved and those who perish.
Chapter 3. So far from arrogating to themselves service in the gospel, he informs them it is God who made them (that is, the preachers) competent ministers, unlike others who are mere hucksters of the Word of God, trading corruptly, and what is most important of all is that the ministry so graciously entrusted to the apostle, with others, is to be the sole letter of commendation as the results of such ministry are worked out, and to show that the power was of God and not of us.
Chapter 4 definitely unfolds that that fragile vessel survived the afflictions and brutality, the dashing to the ground, the stoning by stones, that Paul as such was subjected to, and remained intact to the end, till such time as Paul himself said, I have finished my course and am ready for sacrifice.
In chapter 5 he says, graciously including his fellow-workers, “We then as ambassadors for Christ.” Such they were by special appointment, no one else being sent from heaven to God’s enemies to appeal to the world to be reconciled to God, but then our privilege is to continue to set forth God’s attitude, which was indeed first divulged by the apostle Paul and his colleagues.
Then as to personal conduct, Chapter 6 shows that they, the apostles, gave no offense whatever, lest the blame came upon the ministry, not the minister; but, as he shows, if there is not the living out of the ministry the latter suffers.
When the Corinthians read this letter they would be prepared to admit the choice of God in service, and it would come home to them that they were indebted to the apostle in God’s hands for the building of their local assembly—undoubtedly an apostle to them, for the seal of that communion were they in the Lord.
Moreover, they were after their conversion the letter of Christ entrusted to the apostle’s care (2 Corinthians 3:3), the word “ministered” being the same as “cared for” (that is, ministered to Him of their substance), and as such Paul valued that epistle or letter with such a loving care as to say, I “abundantly love you,” and as a key to all his exercises for them he says, “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin in Christ.”
—W. Turner